Burma Army units have been in a drive to and to dislodge units of Shan State Army (SSA) that had concluded a ceasefire agreement on 2 December in Shan State East, according to Lt-Gen Yawdserk, Chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the SSA’s political arm.
“The agreement with the government is that we stay out of towns and the Burma Army out of the countryside,” he said, “and that movements outside of one’s sphere of control must be notified in advance to the other. This is a deliberate act of discredit against the government.”
According to SSA sources, SSA units in Shan State East are under relentless pressure to withdraw to their main bases along the Thai-Burmese border.
Inevitably, the drive resulted in clashes: one on 6 February near South Monghai, Tachilek district and the other on 7 February in Mongpulong, Mongpiang township.
“I have lodged a protest with the Triangle Region Command in Kengtung,” said the SSA leader. “So far no reply has been forthcoming.”
The SSA’s liaison officer in Kengtung, Shan State East capital and headquarters of the Triangle Region Command, is Col Aung Mawng.
All SSA units have been placed on a state of alert since.
“Now we are learning first hand how the Burma Army is flouting ceasefire orders coming from Naypyitaw in Kachin State,” said an SSA officer who requested anonymity. “It should serve as another warning for all movements that have signed ceasefire agreements.”
So far, Naypyitaw has concluded ceasefire pacts with 8 armed movements (though 2 say they have only reached initial agreement to discuss for durable ceasefire). It is still in negotiation with two other main groups: Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).
